Valve-gear.



No. 724,291. PATENTED MAR. 31. 1903.; G. HOWARD & G GIBBS.

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1902.

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VALVE GEAR.

' API'LIOATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1902.

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I and GEORGE GIBBS, engineers, subjects of the beam in assuming thisposition also raising NlTED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- VALVE-G EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,291, dated March31, 1903.

Application filed September 5. 1902. Serial No. 122,252. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEOFFREY HOWARD King of Great Britain, residing atBritannia Iron Works, Redford, in the county of Bedford, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Val ve-Gear, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has reference to valve-gear for steam and other fluidpressure engines, and is particularly applicable to the control of thefluid-pressure-distributing valve of a mechanical stoker of the kindwherein the fuel is fed to the furnace bya reciprocating pusher or ramoperated by a pistonand wherein the fluid-pressure for working saidpiston is, by an automatically-actuated fiuid-pressure-distributingvalve, admitted to and exhausted from the working cylinder at periodicalintervals which by adjusting the valve-gear are capable of beingprolonged or diminished, as required.

According to our invention the movements of said valve are automaticallycontrolled by a weighted arm and a rocking beam or lever havin g at itsopposite ends receptacles for containing liquid or other suitable mobilesubstance, the said receptacles being in communication with each other.By appropriate mechanism actuated by the reciprocations of the fuelfeeder, pusher, or ram each time the piston completes one of its strokesthe distributingvalve is set into its intermediate or cut-oft position,while the rocking beam is caused to assume an inclined position with thereceptacle containing the most liquid in a higher position than theother receptacle, the said the weighted arm. The flow of the liquid fromthe higher to the lower receptacle causes the said beam to rock andliberate the weight ed arm from its raised position, so that it falls bythe action of gravity and in so doing causes the distributing-valve tobe shifted into its open position for admitting motive fluid to thecylinder and causing the piston to perform another stroke. The timeoccupied by the-liquid in flowing from the higher to the lowerreceptacle of the rocking beam regulates the period of rest between themovements of the distributing-valve, and therefore between the strokesof the piston.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, we will .now describe the same more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. .2 a plan, of one form of ourvalve-gear applied to a mechanical stoker of the kind referred to.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the valve-gear, takenapproximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, andFig. 5 a plan, of a modified form of our valvegear applied to the saidmechanical stoker. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of thevalve-gear, taken approximately on the line ing the furnace is suppliedto the chamber D. i

F is the Weighted arm, and the rocking beam.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1,2, and 3,'H and I aretwooscillatory or swinging plates, the former of which has a pair ofhorns h k at the upper part and a pair. of

ears h h at its lower part and is keyed or:

otherwise secured to the valve-spindle C. The other oscillatory plate Ihas at its upper part a segmental slot 2' and at its lower part a pairof lugs t" i and is free to rock upon a sleeve 0 on the saidvalve-spindle. For sake of distinction we will refer to these twoplates, respectively, as the horned plate and the slotted plate. Thesaid weighted arm F is also free to rock about said sleeve 0 of thevalve-spindle'O, and it has a lateral pin or fingerf, which engages withthe slot '6 in the slotted plate. The slotted plate also carries therocking beam G, having at its opposite ends the receptacles G G forcontaining the liquid or other suitablemobile substance, the saidreceptacles being in commitnication with each other through a pipe orconduit which in the example shown constitutes the aforesaid beam G.Situated beneath the said valvespindle C is a rocking shaft J, carryingan arm j, which has two autifriction rollers or pins 7" j near its freeend, said rocking shaft receiving its movement from a sliding rod or bar7' bearing adjustable tappets j j which are struck by a finger D on theram during the reciprocating movements of the latter. The saidantifriction-rollers j j are so situated that as said arm j rocks theywill strike against the ears 71 72, of the horned plate Hand the lugs ifa? of the slotted plate I, thus imparting oscillatory motion to theseplates and to the valve-spindle.

As the ram D reciprocates under the action of the steam admitted by thevalve Oto the working cylinder and as'it completes one or other of itsstrokessay its left-hand stroke-its finger D strikes the tappet 7' onthe sliding bar j thereby shifting the latter to the left and causingthe rocking shaft J to turn and its arm j to rock toward the right. Oneof the antifriction-rollers on said arm then strikes the ear 71. of theaforesaid horned plate H,thereby actuating said plate and cansing thevalve-spindle to rock to the extent necessary to bring the slide-valveinto its central or cut-ofl position, Fig. 1, thus closing the steam andexhaust ports of the working cylinder. This movement of the rockingshaft .T and its arm j also brings the other antifriction-roller againstthe lug 2' on the aforesaid slotted plate I, whereby the latter isactuated and the beam G it carries is rocked into the positionrepresented in Fig. 1. Thus the receptaele G on said beam is raised andthe receptacle G lowered, so that the fluid in the raised receptaclewill flow through the hollow beam into the lower receptacle. Thismovement of the slotted plate I also causes its slot 2' to act upon thepin fof the weighted arm F, whereby the latter is moved into an almostupright position, as represented in Fig. 1. The said weighted armremains in this position until sufficient liquid from the upperreceptacle has flowed into the lower receptacle to overcome the inertiaof the weighted arm and cause it, through the intervention of theslotted plate I and the pin f, to fall from its upright position towardthe left. In falling its pin f, by moving in the slot 71 of the slottedplate, strikes the horn 7t of the horned plate II, whereby the latter isactuated and caused to rock the valve-spindle. The valve 0 is thusshifted into its open position to admit steam to the working cylinder onthe side of the piston opposite to that to which it was previouslyadmitted. The piston is therefore caused to perform a stroke toward theright until, upon approaching the end of its stroke, the finger D on theram actuato s the other tappet 7' on the sliding bar 3' whereby themovements of the aforesaid horned and slotted plates H and I and theweighted arm F are again eifected, but in the opposite direction.

The aforesaid weighted arm F serves to retard the operation of the beamG, so that said beam will not be overbalanced until the whole, orpractically the whole, of the liquid from the upper receptacle hasflowed int-o the lower one. Said weighted arm also serves to increasethe force of the impulse imparted to the valve-spindle. The position ofthe weight on the said arm is preferably made adjustable.

The speed at which the fluid flows from one receptacle to the other iscontrolled by ad justable valves g g or other suitable devices, so thatthe periods of rest between the strokes of the piston can be regulatedat will. It is desirable in some cases to have an unequallytimed periodof rest between the strokes, so that the piston will remain stationaryat one end of its stroke longer than at the other end. For this purposewe provide at one end of the aforesaid beam G a by-pass, through whichthe fluid can flow into the adjacent receptacle G independently of thevalve g, and therefore enter said receptacle at a greater speed than itcan do when flowing past the said valve. Theend g of this by-pass isarranged to lie above the level of the fluid in the receptacle G2 whenthe latter is in its raised position, Fig. 1, so that the fluid inescaping from said receptacle is compelled to flow past the said valveg.

In order to limit the extent of movement of the aforesaid slotted plateI, we provide a fixed stop i against the opposite sides of which itstrikes at the ends of its movements.

The flow of the fluid from one to the other of the receptacles of thebeam G regulates the period of rest between the strokes of the piston,and the position of the tappetsfj on the sliding bar 7' regulates thelength of the strokes of said piston in either direction.

We may provide means for preventing the aforesaidweighted lever fromshifting beyond its approximately upright position to which it is set bythe slotted plate I. Said means may comprise a loosely-pivoted T-piecef, carried by the weighted arm and operating in conjunction with fixedstops f f with which it will engage by its inertia if the said weightedlever should tend to turn beyond its proper position.

Referring now to the modification shown by Figs. 4 to 6, in which themanner of imparting motion to the weighted arm F and rocking beam G isvaried, H is a plate attached to the outer end of the valve-spindle C,said plate having at its upper part horns h' h and at its lower part alug 71. Loosely mounted on a sleeve 0 surrounding the valve-spindle, isa plate I, having at its upper part an arm '5 and at its lower part twoadjustable set-screws 2' i so arranged that their inner ends are capableof striking the lug h of the plate H. The free end of the said arm 71 isconnected by a rod 1' to a studblock '6 mounted on a swinging arm j andcapable of adjustment thereon by a set-screw P. The upper end of thisarm is pivotally connected at j to a bracketj and at its lower end isconnected by a linkj to the finger D of the ram D, from which motion istransmitted to said plate I by the swinging arm f and connecting-rod 2'G is a boss loosely mounted on the sleeve 0 and carrying the rockingbeam G with its receptacles G G This boss also has projections g gbetween which the finger f of the weighted arm F works. This finger alsoworks between the horns h and h -of the plate H. The arm i of the plateI has shoulders to engage with the projections g g 'of the boss G of thebeam. When the said arm 2' and plate I are rocked by the movement of theram D and the swinging arm i the arm 2' acts upon one or other of theprojections g g and rocks the beam G, the other projection that is notacted upon by said arm then turning the weighted arm F into itsapproximately upright position, as shown in Fig. 4. The liquid in theuppermost receptacle G of the beam then flows into thelowermostreceptacle G until the weightof the latter is sufficient tooverbalance the weighted arm F and turn it over its dead-center andpermit it to fall, as already explained in connection with thepreviously-described arrangement. As the said weighted arm falls itsfinger fstrikes the horn h of the plate H, thereby actuating said plateand angularly shifting the valve-spindle into a position to cause thevalve to uncover the steam-inlet to the working cylinder and permit thesteam to drive the piston from left to right. As the piston performs itsstroke the swinging arm and connecting-rodt turn the arm 2' and plate 1toward the right, thereby bringing the setscrew 2' into contact with thelug h of the plate H and setting this plate into a position to place thevalve at its central or cut-cit position, thus stopping the supply ofsteam to the working cylinder. Simultaneously with this movement of theplate 11 the beam G has been rocked into the reverse position to thatrepresented in' Fig. 4t. e., with the receptacle G uppermost. Thereforethe liquid which has previously flowed into this receptacle from thereceptacle G now flows back again into the receptacle G and in so doingeventually causes the beam to rock and the weighted arm to swing asalready described, but in the opposite direction.

The valves 9 g for regulating the flow of the liquid to and from thereceptacles G G are arranged vertically instead of horizontally, as inthe previously-described construction. The by-pass g is similar inaction to that already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

The aforesaid connecting-rod i is adapted to be shortened orlengthened'in order to regulate the stroke of the plate I, for whichpurpose we have shown the end of said rod screw-threaded to engage witha correspondingly-screw-threaded socket i on the studblock 11 We wish itto be understood that our invention is notonly applicable to the workingcylinders of mechanical stokers, but can be applied with advantage-tothe working cylinders of other engines-such as hydraulic or other pumps,compressed-air motors, and such like. We also wish it to be understoodthat instead of a slide-valve a rotary valve may be employed.

What we claim is- 1. In distributing valve gear for fluid-pressureengines, the combination with the working cylinder, its piston, and itsdistributingvalve; of arocking beam provided at its ends 2. Indistributing-valve gear for fiuid-pressure engines, the combination withthe working cylinder, its piston and its distributingvalve of a rockingbeam provided at its ends with receptacles communicating with each otherand containing mobile substance, means for controlling the flow of thesaid mobile substance from one receptacle to the other, a weighted armwith which said beam cooperates, means controlled by the piston forsetting'the beam in an inclined position, raising the weighted arm, andplacing the valvein its intermediate or cut-off position, means forliberating said weighted arm by the movement of the beam due to the flowof the mo-' bile substance from the upper to the lower receptacle, andmeans for enabling said arm to open the valve substantially asdescribed.

3. In distribu tin g-valve gear for fluid-pressure engines, thecombination with the working cylinder, its piston, and itsdistributingvalve; of a rocking beam provided at its ends withreceptacles communicating with each other and containing mobilesubstance, adjustable valves for controlling the flow of the said mobilesubstance from one receptacle to the other, a weighted arm with whichsaid beam cooperates, means controlled by the piston for setting thebeam in an inclined position, raising the weighted arm, and placing thevalve in its intermediate or cut-0E 'position, means for liberating saidweighted arm by the movement of the beam dueto the flow of the mobilesubstance from the upper to the lower receptacle, and means for enablingsaid arm to open the valve'substantially as described.

4. In distributing-valve gear for fluid-pressure engines, thecombination with the working cylinder, its piston and itsdistributingvalve; of a rocking beam provided at its end withreceptacles communicating with each otherand containing mobilesubstance, means for controlling the flow of the said mobile substancefrom one receptacle to the other, a bypass on one receptacle for themobile substance to flow into said receptacle independently of thecontrolling means, a weighted arm with which said beam cooperates, meanscontrolled by the piston for setting the beam in an inclined position,raising the weighted arm, and placing the valve in its intermediate orcubofi position, means for liberating said weighted arm by the movementof the beam due to the flow of the mobile substance from the upper tothe lower receptacle, and means for enabling said arm to open the valvesubstantially as described.

5. In distributing-valve gear for fluid-pressure engines, thecombination with the working cylinder, its piston, and itsdistributingvalve; of a rocking beam provided at its ends withreceptacles containing mobile substance and communicating with eachother through a conduit in the beam, means for controlling the flow ofthe said mobile substance from one receptacle to the other, a by-pass inone receptacle for the mobile substance to flow into said receptacleindependently of the said controlling means, a weighted arm with whichsaid beam cooperates, means controlled by the piston for setting thebeam in an inclined position, raising the Weighted arm, and placing thevalve in its intermediate or cut-off position, means for liberating saidWeighted arm by the movement of the beam due to the flow of the mobilesubstance from the upper to the lower receptacle, and means for enablingsaid arm to open the valve substantially as described.

6. In distributing-valve gear for a mechanical stoker operated directlyby a fluid-pressure engine; the combination with the working cylinder,its piston, and its distributingvalve, of a rocking beam loosely mountedon the valve-spindle and provided at its ends with receptaclescommunicating with each other and containing mobile substance, aWeighted arm cooperating with said beam and also loosely mounted on thevalve-spindle, two oscillatory plates, one loosely mounted on thevalve-spindle and the other afilxed thereto, means connecting said looseoscillatory plate with the ram of the stoker, means whereby the looseplate causes the beam to assume an inclined position, the weighted armto assume an approximately vertical position and the other plate to setthe valve in its intermediate or cut-off position, and means whereby thebeam in rocking by the flow of the mobile substance from the upper tothe lower receptacle, releases the weighted arm and permits it tooperate the plate fixed to the valve-spindle and open the valvesubstantially as described.

7. In distributing-valve gear for a mechanical stoker operated directlyby a fluid-pressure engine; the combination with the working cylinder,its piston, and its distributingvalve, of a rocking beam loosely mountedon the valve-spindle and provided at its ends with liquid-containingreceptacles communicating with each other, adjustable valves forcontrolling the flow of said liquid from one receptacle to the other, aby-pass on one receptacle for the liquid to flow thereinto independentlyof the adjustable valve, a weighted arm cooperating with the beam andloosely mounted on the valve-spindle, two oscillatory plates, onemounted loosely on the valvespindle and the other fast thereon, anadjustable rod connecting said loose swinging plate to the ram of thestoker through the intervention of a swinging arm, adjustable block andlink, set-screws on the loose plate adapted to cooperate with aprojection on the fast plate, projections on the beam codperating withshoulders on the loose plate, a finger on the weighted arm with whichthe project-ions on the beam cooperate, and projections on the fastplate with which said finger of the weighted arm cooperates, allsubstantially as and for the purposes specified.

In distributing-valve gear for a mechanical stoker, operated directly bya fluid-pressure engine; the combination with the working cylinder, itspiston and its distributingvalve, of a rocking beam provided at its endswith liquid-containing receptacles communicating with each other,adjustable valves for controlling the flow of said liquid from onereceptacle to the other, a by-pass on one receptacle for the liquid toflow thereinto independently of the adjustable valves, an oscillatoryplate loosely mounted on the valvespindle and carrying said beam, aweighted arm cooperating with the beam and loosely mounted on thevalve-spindle, another oscillatory plate mounted fast on the saidvalvespindle, a rocking arm for actuating both of said plates forsetting the valve into its cutoff position and the beam into an inclinedposition, a sliding rod connected with said rocking arm, adjustabletappets on said sliding rod, a finger on the ram of the stoker foracting upon said tappets, and a finger on the weighted arm engaging witha slot in the loose plate and lying in the path of projections on thefast plate, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 22d day of August, 1902.

GEOFFREY HOWARD. GEORGE GIBBS.

Witnesses:

JAMES RorEn, ERNEST GEORGE BRANDON.

IIO

